SGI funding new scholarship for Indigenous students in honour of Montreal Lake man

The Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is funding a new scholarship in honour of a man from the Montreal Lake Cree Nation.

Harold Johnson, who was a Crown Prosecutor, Indigenous advocate, and most notably a revered author, passed away last February after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. One of his biggest books was ‘Firewater: How Alcohol is Killing My People (And Yours).’

In an attempt to recognize him and his work, SGI has created the Harold Johnson Memorial Scholarship which will award one Indigenous student a year up to $10,000 to help further their studies. They will receive a maximum of $2,500 a year over a four-year span.

“Harold was a critical influencer who engaged communities to change the story around alcohol,” said Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SGI. “In 2016, he developed the vision for the Northern Alcohol Strategy – an initiative now supported by SGI – which empowers and inspires community collaboration to reduce alcohol-related harms.”